It's such a cliche to say that "less is more" but it's so often the case.
We often advise companies we're talking to to raise less money than they otherwise might. Raising less now typically means less dilution. It can also mean more focus. Often times, raising too much means spending too much, or growing the team faster than makes sense, ultimately slowing things down.
Often times doing less means accomplishing more. What I mean by this is: doing something "perfectly" or "bigly" or whatever, often adds pressure, which can often lead to accomplishing less. This is the "perfect as the enemy of good" version of more. I most often see this expressed in forms like, we are encouraging our analysts at USV to write blog posts or develop internal decks/memos more quickly with less pressure, to get them out in the world and get feedback. My partner Jared encapsulates this well in Shitty First Drafts. This is also the theory behind Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). Often times, waiting to do more results in accomplishing less (and feeling worse along the way).
Doing less has the important result of keeping things moving. Doing less more often is better than doing more less often, because it generates momentum. For example, for the past week, I've been picking up acorns in my back yard, in 3 minute bursts when I have a moment. I've collected hundreds of acorns, and it has felt like basically no work.
More stuff also means more responsibility. More pressure, more weight, more cost, etc etc. I'm definitely not a Marie Kondo minimalist, but I do understand this point of view. While I love stuff, I also like to pack light.
I'm writing this now mostly as a reminder to myself about how much I value this overall approach.
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Back with another handful of hand-picked pieces of writing over the past week or so!
Before we dive in, we wanted to spotlight a writing contest hosted by @kiwi & @nouns. Writers are invited to write about the any Nounish topics for a chance to win part of a 3.5 ETH prize pool (among other benefits!). Read more about it here: https://paragraph.xyz/@kiwi-updates/into-the-nouniverse-writing-contest
@tinyrainboot shares a frustration with the “free mint” culture in blockchain art, criticizing its benefits to platforms over artists and weighing various strategies for regaining control over their work and its value. "These models incentivize the creation of art as something quick, low-effort, and easy, because why pour hours of your time into making something with such a low ROI?" https://paragraph.xyz/@tinyrainboot/free-mint-meta
@cbxm shares his journey from a casual viewer to an avid New York Liberty supporter, praising standout players like Breanna Stewart, Caitlin Clark, Diana Taurasi, and A’ja Wilson, while capturing the drama and excitement of the season and playoffs. https://paragraph.xyz/@cbxm/the-w
@toadyhawk.eth profiles @jessepollak, highlighting his journey from a traditional tech background to leading onchain projects at Coinbase, his vision for a decentralized future with Base, and the blend of professional drive and personal values that define his leadership style. "Always lead with curiosity and questions... it helps whoever you're coaching come up with the right answer for themselves." https://paragraph.xyz/@toadyhawk/vip-8-jesse
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Related read: https://nickgrossman.xyz/doing-less > Doing less has the important result of keeping things moving. Doing less more often is better than doing more less often, because it generates momentum. Keep walking, consistently 🚶
The importance of momentum has been one of my greatest lessons in life, inertia kills
i love this and totally agree! thank you for sharing. consistency really is the key to doing less and generating more. a concept that took me years to embody, but totally changed my life when i saw firsthand how profound it is.
Same, for some reason I could not grasp this at a deep level in my 20s even though it made intellectual sense
same for me! the conditioning of pushing and nonstop hustling took time and effort to unlearn
sometimes i read a piece and find myself physically nodding my head up and down in agreement that's how i felt reading my partner @nickgrossman.eth's most recent post on less is more https://nickgrossman.xyz/doing-less
Love this @nickgrossman.eth One thing I’m extremely thankful for w Bracket is that we have frequent forcing function in real-world: You either cover the NBA Finals… or you wait a year. etc It genuinely pains our team to miss out on epic moments so we always err toward shipping. Now nothing else feels ok.
In the latest blog post, @nickgrossman.eth emphasizes that "less is more," advising that raising less capital can lead to better concentration and less dilution. He shares insights on overcoming pressure, enjoying momentum through incremental actions, and reflecting on valuing a lighter approach to work.